And it was then I began to realize for the first time that…
““And it was then I began to realize for the first time that there are two distinct sides to a writer of fiction. First, there is the side he displays to the public, that of an ordinary person like anyone else, a person who does ordinary things and speaks ordinary language. Second, there is the secret side, which comes out in him only after he has closed the door of his workroom and is completely alone. It is then that he slips into another world altogether, a world where his imagination takes over and he finds himself actually living in the places he is writing about at that moment. I myself, if you want to know, fall into a kind of trance, and everything around me disappears. I see only the point of my pencil moving over the paper, and quite often two hours go by as though they were a couple of seconds.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writers have a public persona and a private, immersive creative state where imagination dominates and time feels altered.
In simple terms: Writers switch between ordinary life and deep creative trance.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude to deepen creative focus.
Themes
creativity
solitude
imagination
Mood
focused
introspective
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing sessions
- solo retreats
- creative workshops
- author talks
Key Concepts
dual identity
flow state
immersive writing
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you transition from creative trance to everyday life?
- What rituals help you enter this focused state?
A Different Perspective
The trance may lead to isolation if not balanced with social interaction.